Page:Vance--Terence O'Rourke.djvu/49

 brightening as she glimpsed the scrap of ribbon and the pendent silver star.

"I begin to think that chance has been very kind to me, Colonel O'Rourke," she said, less coolly.

"Possibly, madame."

"You have seen other service) monsieur?" "Yes—"

"For 'Cuba Libre,' I believe?"

"But the list is a long one," he expostulated laughingly.

"For so young a man—so gallant a soldier!"

"Oh, madame!" he deprecated.

"You are," she changed the subject, "pledged to no cause, monsieur?"

"To yours alone, madame."

She thanked him with a glance. He was amply rewarded. After an instant of hesitation, she proceeded bluntly:

"You, I presume, know who I am?"

"Madame la Princesse—" he began.

"I do not mean that," she interrupted; "but before my marriage—?"

"No—" he dubitated.

This seemed to gratify her.

"That is good, then—you do not know me, really," she concluded. "You do not even know where you are?"

"No more than in Paris," he laughed.

"Oh, that is good, indeed! Then I may talk freely—although I must ask that you consider every word confidential. I rely upon your honor—" "Believe me, ye may."

"Then—to business."

Heretofore she had been studying his features intently; what character she had read therein must have been reassur-